Hundreds attend Spurrier's practice

College football notebook

COLUMBIA, S.C. - Steve Spurrier moved a step closer to his college football return as he opened fall practice at South Carolina on Tuesday night.

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It's the first college camp he has led since his final season at Florida in 2001. In less than month, Spurrier, with a humbler attitude and wearing a new Gamecock visor, will take the field again when South Carolina faces Central Florida on Sept. 1 at a sold-out Williams-Brice Stadium.

Practice Tuesday began with a message from school president Andrew Sorensen, dressed in a tweed jacket, bow tie and a bright, white South Carolina visor.

When Spurrier walked on to the practice field he gave a brief wave to the fans behind security ropes near the entrance, then he went right to work.

After some simple stretches and loosening drills, the team broke into positions with Spurrier joining the offense.

Several hundred fans came out for the first fall practice of the Spurrier era at South Carolina.

"We are excited to get started," Spurrier said after the players officially reported Monday night. "Most of the guys worked very hard this summer."

Spurrier's enthusiasm, and the hope for big-time success he has fostered in South Carolina fans, has been the Gamecocks' chief asset so far.

Spurrier's confidence comes from winning six SEC titles in 12 years at Florida and one ACC crown in three years at Duke.

Schaeffer to transfer

TAMPA, Fla. - Former Tennessee quarterback Brent Schaeffer has decided to attend a junior college this fall and hopes to transfer later to another school in the SEC.

Last season Schaeffer became the first freshman to start at quarterback in an SEC opener since 1945. He lost the starting job after the third game and then broke his collarbone.

Schaeffer, of Deerfield Beach, Fla., announced he was leaving Tennessee in April after he was charged with assault stemming from a fight with a fellow student.

Schaeffer said he is attending the College of the Sequoias in Visalia, Calif. After this season, he will have two years of eligibility remaining, and then he could transfer to another SEC school.